[Congkasae.com/Travel] A suspected suicide bomb attack targeted Catholics leaving a cathedral after Palm Sunday Mass on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
The explosion occurred March 28 outside Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi province, as church-goers were exiting the cathedral at the start of Holy Week.
At least 14 worshipers were injured by the blast at the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Makassar.
Fr. Wilhelmus Tulak, who celebrated the Mass, said that the explosion occurred at around 10:30 a.m. local time.
The priest explained that a suspected bomber, who arrived on a motorbike, tried to enter the cathedral but was turned away by security guards. Other reports suggested that there were two perpetrators.
Acording to cellular video showing body parts near a burning motorbike at the cathedral gates.
An activist from the catholic Student of the republic of Indonesia Hery Mandela said From this incident, it can be said that the seeds of radicalism and terrorist groups are still well preserved in our nation.
"Of course this is a bad precedent for the TNI, POLRI, BNPT, and BIN. Because this act of terror escaped and escaped their detection,"Chairman of the Catholic Student Association of the Republic of Indonesia Hery Mandela told to the press on Monday morning.
Acording to Activist It must be admitted that bom attack in the Makassar Cathedral Church today gave fear to all Christians and this has greatly disturbed the situation of the upcoming Tri Holy Days and Easter.
"Most likely this has become a target of terrorists. They are trying to thwart the implementation of the Tri Holy Day and Easter celebrations for Christians in the future,"Mandela added.
The government has strongly condemned this suicide bombing. The President of Indonesia Joko Widodo said that terrorism is a crime against humanity and is not related to any religion.
"Terrorism is a crime against humanity and has nothing to do with any religion," Jokowi said in a virtual press conference on Sunday.
Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) said the suicide bomber was suspected of being a member or sympathizer of a former mass organization in the country.
BIN has not yet specified which mass organization related to this attact.
"The arrest of a number of terrorist perpetrators in Makassar, some of whom are members and sympathizers of certain former mass organizations, continues to be investigated," said Deputy VII BIN, Wawan Purwanto on Sunday.
Author: Tonny Rahu
